Thursday, 14 July 2016

Amorphous polyalphaolefin (APAO), an olefin-based thermoplastic polymer, offers a range of benefits. APAO is known for its properties such as excellent resistance to UV rays, corrosion, moisture, and chemical inertness.

APAO is a relatively new raw material and is extensively being used for making hot melt adhesives along with styrene-butadiene copolymers (SBC) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). Amorphous polyalphaolefin is used as the base polymer for making several adhesives. Thus, it is considered as the crucial component in the formulation of hot melt adhesives. Until the mid-19th century, APAO was derived as a by-product when isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was synthesized. Over the years, the invention and introduction of Ziegler-Natta (Z-N) catalyst has made the production of APAO easier, with the compound now produced with just polymerization of ethylene and propylene in the presence of this catalyst.

The major factor enabling the growth of the global amorphous polyalphaolefin (APAO) market is the rise of the automotive industry across the world. APAO is especially used for product assembly of panel laminations, hotline fixing of car seats, trim, and headlamp assemblies. The demand for APAO for hot melt can also be felt in industries concerned with producing personal hygiene products, urgent need for low-emission automotive vehicles, and the ever-growing packaging industry.

One of the major restraints for the global amorphous polyalphaolefin (APAO) market is the constant fluctuation in the prices of raw materials. However, manufacturers can look at blending this material with tackifier, wax, and resins to improve the hot melt properties of APAO.

The global APAO for hot melt market is segmented on the basis of products, applications, and regions. The products in the global APAO for hot melt market are copolymers and homopolymers. The applications of APAO are seen in areas of paper and packaging, bookbinding, woodworking, personal hygiene, product assembly, footwear, textiles, asphalt modifiers, electronics, and wires and cables. Geographically, the global APAO for hot melt market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World.

Paper and Packaging Industry Emerges as the Strongest Segment

The biggest application of APAO is seen in the paper and packaging industry. According to industry experts, this segment is expected to continue its dominance in the coming few years. As of 2014, the bookbinding segment in the global APAO for hot melt market held a share of just about 5% in the global APAO for hot melt market in 2014.

The woodworking segment is expected to grow at very low rate from 2015 to 2023. Woodworking uses polyolefin-based hot melt adhesives of types such as filler and non-filler for profile wrapping and edge banding.

The largest product segment, in terms of volume, in the global APAO for hot melt market in 2014 was copolymers. In the forecast period, this segment is expected to witness considerable growth due to growing demand due to its high impact strength. The polypropylene-based homopolymers segment is also expected to grow at a steady rate.

The top five players in the global APAO for hot melt market account for nearly 60% of the total market. Some of the key players changing the shape of this market are Henkel AG & Company KGaA, H.B. Fuller, Evonik Industries AG, REXtac, Eastman Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, LLC, and Bostik S.A.

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